Aug. 4, 2005
ARLINGTON, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington volleyball team was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference in two separate preseason polls conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, the league released Wednesday.
Stephen F. Austin was the overwhelming favorite in both polls as the Ladyjacks received seven first-place votes in the coaches poll and eight in the SIDs poll. Texas State was picked to finish second with two first-place votes from the coaches and the final three votes from the SIDs. UTA and Texas-San Antonio tied for third in the coaches poll, with both teams receiving a first-place vote, while the Mavs nipped out the Roadrunners for third in the SIDs poll.
"I'm not surprised of the standings of the poll at all," said head coach Diane Seymour, who is in her first year as head coach after serving as the interim coach last season. " Not surprised where we are picked and not surprised to see SFA picked unanimously. Texas State is always going to compete and be at the top. They lost some seniors who played significant roles, just as well did, but they are always going to compete."
The two polls remained similar throughout as the head coaches picked Sam Houston State to finish fifth, McNeese State sixth, Northwestern State seventh, Lamar eighth, Southeastern Louisiana ninth, Louisiana-Monroe 10th and Nicholls State 11th. The SIDs picked MSU fifth, SHSU sixth, NWLa. seventh, SLU eighth, LU ninth, NICH 10th and ULM 11th.
The 2005 volleyball season gets underway on Aug. 27 at the Texas A&M Tournament. UTA will take on Prairie View A&M at 12 p.m. and the host Aggies at 6:30 p.m.
2005 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLLS
Head Coaches' Poll
School (First-place votes) - Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (7) - 95
2. Texas State (2) - 85
3. Texas-Arlington (1) - 79
Texas-San Antonio (1) - 79
5. Sam Houston State - 63
6. McNeese State - 61
7. Northwestern State - 40
8. Lamar - 36
9. Southeastern Louisiana - 34
10. Louisiana-Monroe - 21
11. Nicholls State - 12
(Coaches could not vote for their own teams.)
Sports Information Directors' Poll
School (First-place votes) - Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (8) - 116
2. Texas State (3) - 105
3. Texas-Arlington - 99
4. Texas-San Antonio - 88
5. McNeese State - 77
6. Sam Houston State - 71
7. Northwestern State - 50
8. Southeastern Louisiana - 41
9. Lamar - 38
10. Nicholls State - 28
11. Louisiana-Monroe - 13
